Do you want to better understand our rapidly changing world marked by multiple, complex and interconnected crises? Do you want to explore how societal crises such as poverty, inequality, displacement, pandemic events, climate change and environmental degradation can be addressed? Are you interested in development issues and want to learn more about environmental, social, economic and political facilitators and obstacles to development?
In the Global Development, Crisis and Change programme you will study development and social change through the lens of contemporary crises unfolding across the globe. You will learn about the underlying reasons behind different crises, and the social and economic changes they can lead to. The programme provides insights into how crises are understood, communicated and addressed across different contexts, as well as interconnections between different crises. You will also learn about how crises affect people unequally because of social differentiation within and across culturally complex contexts.
This master’s programme is a full-time blended programme, consisting of online learning and two physical gatherings (face-to-face sessions). Students who need to apply for a visa to come to Norway, can choose to apply for a short-term visa for the face-to-face session in August, or can apply for a student visa and stay on campus during the two years.
In this programme you will learn about theories and findings concerning development, crisis and social change. You will explore how theoretical knowledge provides insight for solving practical problems, but equally important, how practice can inform theories and policies. The programme is cross disciplinary, and you will be introduced to a variety of disciplines, including political science, sociology, anthropology, communication and media studies and geography. In addition, you will be well skilled in cross cultural communication and collaboration.
In the beginning of the first semester, you will participate in an obligatory face-to-face session at UiA. Here you will spend two weeks with your fellow students, professors and tutors. The face-to-face session will be an introduction to learning resources, computer technology, applied pedagogies and the start-up of the courses. The second face-to-face session will take place in the second semester (four weeks in May/June) at our partner institution in Sri Lanka.
Cooperation is a fundamental idea for the programme. The pedagogy is learner focused, and will include group work, discussions and joint assignments. The online tuition, instruction and supervision takes place in virtual classrooms. The programme is full time, and we expect all students to participate actively, take responsibility for their own learning and take part in the development of an optimal learning environment.
Half of the third semester (15 ECTS) and the whole of the fourth semester (30 ECTS) will be fully devoted to the writing of a master’s thesis - building upon coursework and your personal experiences and focusing on problems and issues of high personal interest and to the societies and institutions you represent. You will be encouraged to do fieldwork in a developing country in connection with your master's thesis. We consider this experience to be of particular value for research on environment and development issues.
Graduates from the master's programme qualify for work related to:
1 semester |
UT–410 Understanding crisis – a conceptual approach (10 ECTS) |
UT-403-1 Global environment issues - a political ecology perspective (10 ECTS) |
UT-404-1 Current development issues: inequality, power and social change (10 ECTS)
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2 semester |
UT-408-1 Gender, culture and everyday life (10 ECTS) |
ME-413-1 Research Methods in Development and Planning Studies (10 ECTS) |
ME-433-1 Field Course (5 ECTS) |
UT-508 Cross-cutting issues in development (5 ECTS) |
3 semester
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Exchange (30 ECTS)
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SV-407 Communication and crisis (10 ECTS) |
UT-508 Cross-cutting issues in crisis management (5 ECTS) |
ME-526 Master thesis seminar (5 ECTS) |
SV-507 Masteroppgave (40 ECTS) |
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4 semester |
SV-507 Masteroppgave (40 ECTS)
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NB. Minor changes in the study programme may occur.
The general requirements is completed bachelor's degree of minimum 3 years' duration (180 ECTS).
Other requirements:
A weighted, average grade of C or better is required.
For further information, see regulations concerning admission to programmes and courses at the University of Agder, § 24.
The Norwegian government has proposed the introduction of tuition fees for students from countries outside of the EU/EEA and Switzerland who will begin their studies in the autumn semester of 2023.
Four weeks mandatory face to face meeting in Sri Lanka. Most students undertake field work for 6 weeks to 3 months.
Other than this, student exchange is not an option in this study programme.
The master’s programme can qualify for admission to the Faculty of Social Sciences' PhD programme or other relevant PhD programmes.
1 Dec (subject to change)/1 March
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